CRS Metuchen seeks to top last year’s Operation Rice Bowl effort
By Scott Alessi
Staff Writer
EDISON — In the spirit of the Lenten season, Catholics around the country are called to reflect on those in need, both locally and internationally, and to donate to Catholic Relief Services through Operation Rice Bowl.
CRS Metuchen had its most successful Rice Bowl collection to date in 2006 and hopes for an even more generous response in 2007 according to Father Joseph J. Kerrigan, director of CRS Metuchen. The diocese collected $61,904 last year, a 27 percent increase from 2005 and a five percent increase above the previous peak of $58,790 raised in 2003. Of last year’s total, $51,797 came from parish collections with the remaining funds sent in by schools, employees of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen, and individual contributions.
Rice Bowl materials are distributed by CRS Metuchen to about half of the parishes in the diocese. Materials include cardboard collection bowls and a home calendar guide containing reflections, prayers and suggestions for donations. This year’s calendar highlights the needs of people in Mexico, Pakistan, Angola, Cambodia, Niger and here in the United States.
“You don’t have to look far to know there’s a lot of need out there in the world,” said Father Kerrigan. He added that the Rice Bowl funds, 25 percent of which are retained for local use within the diocese, can go a long way in helping those suffering from poverty. “It’s a long haul with the poor,” he said. “Something like Rice Bowl, it will get you onto the highway — or maybe onto the dirt road — of helping the poor.”
Part of the increase in 2006 can be attributed to five new parishes taking part in the program. Of the parishes which receive Rice Bowl materials, 28 returned a contribution to CRS Metuchen last year. “It’s always tough for a parish to invent something every year, so this is an easy thing to get started,” said Father Kerrigan. “It’s a ready-made Lenten program.”
Each year to date, the largest contributor to Operation Rice Bowl in the diocese has been St. Helena Parish, Edison. The parish’s contributions account for as much as a quarter of the total amount raised in the diocese.
Part of the secret of their success comes from taking a different approach to collecting funds. Instead of asking parishioners to take home rice bowls, envelopes are
distributed to all parishioners for a second collection taken every Sunday during Lent.
“Lent always tells us to do three things; we should pray more, do penance and give alms,” said Msgr. Armando J. Perini, pastor of St. Helena, who began taking a special collection for the poor during Lent in 1972. “Every Sunday, we make notice to the people that our second collection is solely for the poor and we’ve been very, very successful,” he said.
Msgr. Perini also stated that he preaches about the importance of helping the poor because he believes that it is central to the Catholic faith. In turn, parishioners of St. Helena have responded throughout the year, readily giving to many charitable causes when the need arises.
Father Kerrigan was pleased to hear that St. Helena had incorporated Operation Rice Bowl into its weekend liturgies during Lent. “In terms of the magnitude of the response, that’s an outstanding approach,” said Father Kerrigan. “When Msgr. Perini takes up a second collection, it immediately engages everyone who is worshipping there.”
Father Kerrigan believes that this devotion on the part of the pastor is just as important in getting support for Operation Rice Bowl as the method of collecting funds. “A lot of it comes down to a parish or pastor’s commitment to international development, the poor around the world and the poor here,” Father Kerrigan said.
Ida Favis, assistant director of CRS Metuchen, added that it is important for a pastor to draw connections between the spirit of the Rice Bowl campaign and the season of Lent. “When I first did the Rice Bowl with my family, it gave a lot more meaning to Lent,” said Favis. “It’s not just about giving money; it’s all about helping and being in solidarity with the poor.”
While some parishes may not be able to focus on the Rice Bowl campaign as heavily as St. Helena, CRS Metuchen encourages parishioners to take the lead. Any individual whose parish does not currently participate in the program may contact CRS Metuchen in order to obtain the Rice Bowl materials to distribute among fellow parishioners. “Sometimes it’s a better way to go,” said Favis. “Most pastors are busy with so many other things, and just getting that one key person in every parish makes a big difference.”
Individual contributions to Operation Rice Bowl may also be sent to CRS Metuchen, 26 Safran Ave., Edison, NJ 08837.
*The attached/referenced article was originally published in The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, and is protected under U.S. and international copyright law